The Atlas Obscura Guide To Edinburgh

179 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland

Updated January 6, 2025

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Unusual Attractions in Edinburgh

A street in the close.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Mary King's Close

17th century streets hidden under Edinburgh were once a breeding ground for the black death.

The fountain.

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witches' Well

The fountain marks the area where hundreds of accused witches were burned at the stake.

(Flickr/Wojtek Gurak)

Edinburgh, Scotland

Holyrood Abbey Ruins

Ruined 11th century abbey built by King David I in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Edinburgh’s oldest purpose built visitor attraction, The Camera Obscura on the Royal Mile

Edinburgh, Scotland

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

360° views of the city plus five floors of optical illusions and hands-on science.

The Palm house

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh

One of the oldest scientific gardens in Britain, containing more than 13,302 plant species in its core collection.

Gilmerton Cove

Edinburgh, Scotland

Gilmerton Cove

This series of Scottish caves has no clear purpose other than baffling historians.

The Witchery

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witchery

Near the former site of numerous witch burnings, this lavish Edinburgh mainstay pays homage to Scotland's brutal history.

A collection of 8 coffins with their lids and carved figures, found in a rocky niche on the north-eastern slopes of Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, in June 1836. © National Museums Scotland (used with permission)

Edinburgh, Scotland

Burke & Hare Murder Dolls

Tiny effigies of the victims of Edinburgh's famous Anatomy Murders.

See All 179 Things To Do in Edinburgh

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Edinburgh

The Witchery

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witchery

Near the former site of numerous witch burnings, this lavish Edinburgh mainstay pays homage to Scotland's brutal history.

The bar, with the window to the snug.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Bennets Bar

This historic pub has maintained much of its 1906 decor, including a small sequestered room for women, where orders were slipped through a tiny window.

The stained glass over the restaurant’s bar.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Cafe Royal

Come for the oysters, stay for the priceless art honoring inventors across history and Scotland's favorite outdoor sports.

Tolbooth Tavern

Edinburgh, Scotland

Tolbooth Tavern

Now home to a drinking establishment, this building has a macabre history.

See all 5 Places to Eat in Edinburgh

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Hidden Edinburgh

Crowds clog Edinburgh's Royal Mile, the main artery between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The road is dotted with stores selling Nessie trinkets and lined with bagpipers and street performers pulling off dazzling tricks. But look beyond the tartan tourist traps, and you’ll discover tucked-away gardens, remnants of the city’s medieval past, and much more.

Look closely and wander widely: Parliament Square is full of charm.

Explore Edinburgh, Scotland

History & Culture 34

Art 29

Architecture 25

History 24

Museums 19

Statues 15

Sculptures 14

Monuments 12

Animals 10

Churches 9

Plaques 9

Outsider Art 9

Unique Restaurants & Bars 4

Places To Stay 2

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The Mourning Ghost

has been to The Witchery
The Mourning Ghost

has been to George Mackenzie's Mausoleum
The Mourning Ghost

has been to William Wallace and Robert the Bruce Statues
linnikki67

has been to Colinton Tunnel
anawarrior92

has been to The Witches' Well

Stories About Edinburgh

At the University of Edinburgh’s graduation ceremony, a student is tapped with the Geneva Bonnet.

Before Harry Potter’s Sorting Hat, There Was the ‘Medieval Space Bonnet’

Legends swirl around the University of Edinburgh’s mysterious graduation bonnet.

by Sarah Thomson

Uncovering Edinburgh’s Hidden Victorian History—One Doorway at a Time

A new project delves into the stories of forgotten Edinburgh residents and the places they called home.

by Sukhada Tatke

September 6, 2023

On closer examination, the map reveals the places of residence of accused witches, here in the Greater Edinburgh area.

Explore This Map of More Than 3,000 Scottish Witches

An Edinburgh University project uses data to track the victims of Scottish "witch-prickers" in the 16th and 17th centuries.

by Frank Jacobs

Every May, an ancient Celtic festival, known as Beltane, is held atop Calton Hill in Edinburgh, where participants eat a mysterious Beltane bannock cake.

Why 18th-Century Scots Performed Mock Human Sacrifices Over Cake

This May Day, make Beltane bannock, a simple snack with a long history of superstition and divination.

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One of Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos.

The Extraordinary Life of the Freed Slave Who Taught Darwin Taxidermy

John Edmonstone was a mentor to the budding teenage naturalist.

by Sabrina Imbler

“The Anatomist overtaken by the Watch carry’ng off Miss W in a hamper.” William Austin, 1773.

A Beginner's Guide to Body Snatching

Where to go for an education in grave robbery, the grisliest chapter in medical history.

by Molly McBride Jacobson

January 26, 2017

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